20 Best Dog Food Brands Recommended by Vets in 2023

What you feed your furry friend has a huge impact on his health and longevity. Whether mealtime consists of dry kibble or canned wet food, it's important that your pup is eating a diet that provides all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients he needs to feel his best from the inside out.

The key to deciding if dog food is quality or not is the ingredients label. These labels are created by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provide important information about your dog's food, including the name, guaranteed analysis, list of ingredients, and feeding guidelines.

When reviewing a dog food label, pay close attention to the ingredients and the order in which they're listed. Ideally you want a food that contains whole ingredients, like meat, poultry, vegetables, fruits, and grains. Avoid dog foods that are loaded with fillers and by-products.

But let's face it, reviewing labels and sorting through dozens of different food brands is easier said than done. If you want help finding the best food for your canine companion, you've come to the right place. Below you'll find a guide of the 20 best dog food brands recommended by vets.

These dog food brands are known for creating high quality products that nourish your pup while supporting his nutritional and dietary needs. Because they’re veterinarian approved and recommended, you can have total peace of mind that you’re feeding your furry friend a nourishing diet.

No matter if you have a Great Dane puppy or a senior Chihuahua, you're sure to find the perfect food for your dog from these top 20 brands.

1. Pupper Fuel

Whether your dog prefers poultry or red meat, he's sure to love Pupper Fuel. This dog food is formulated for peak performance and optimal health for dogs of all sizes, ages, and breeds. Each recipe is made using all-natural ingredients that are loaded with health-boosting nutrients.

With ingredients like sweet potatoes, kelp, apples, ginger, flax, and brown rice, Pupper Fuel will have your dog feeling better than ever before. For best results, replace about 20% of your dog's normal food with this topper.

2. Penguin CBD Dog Treats

While you can't feed your dog CBD treats as a meal replacement, these soft chews from Penguin are a great way to take your dog's nutrition to the next level. Penguin CBD dog treats are made with pure CBD isolate and offer a delicious sweet potato flavor. Each treat provides 10mg of CBD, which provides a host of health and therapeutic benefits.

Whether your dog has separation anxiety, achy joints from old age, or needs help sleeping at night, Penguin CBD treats are what's missing from his daily regimen. CBD is all-natural and has shown to be safe when given at the recommended dose.

3. Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo follows a feeding philosophy that's inspired by love and family. This brand is different from most on the market because it's made with the healthiest and highest quality ingredients possible. Crafted with the help of veterinarians and animal nutritionists, this food is made with real meat along with an antioxidant blend that supports immune health and oxidative balance.

Blue Buffalo recipes don't contain any chicken by-product meals, corn, wheat, or soy. They're also free of artificial flavors and preservatives.

4. Wellness

Wellness offers natural food for dogs that's made with ingredients you know and trust. Feed your dog well and bring more goodness to meal time with these nutritious recipes. Wellness offers four different food lines, including grain and grain-free, protein-focused, digestive health, and high-protein plus raw meat.

Take pride in taking care of your furry friend with Wellness dog food. With superior nutrients, probiotics, and other health-supporting ingredients, this food protects and nourishes your pup.

5. Taste of the Wild

Taste of the Wild is food that's crafted based on your dog's ancestral diet. This high quality yet affordable food is made with protein sources based on a dog's natural diet. With unique proteins like bison, wild board, duck, venison, salmon, and Angus beef, this is food that your canine will crave.

Whether your dog needs a limited ingredient food or if you're looking for a modern diet, Taste of the Wild has just the recipe. With this food, your pup will thrive and live his best life.

6. Canidae

With wholesome ingredients and balanced recipes, you can't go wrong when feeding Canidae. This dog food is formulated using nutrient-rich recipes that are loaded with premium proteins, farm-grown vegetables, and other ingredients that support balanced, whole body health.

What's also unique about Canidae is that they strive to make pet food more planet-friendly. The brand invests in regenerative agriculture, uses sustainable packaging, and only includes responsibly sourced proteins in its recipes.

7. Instinct

Reap the benefits of feeding raw with Instinct. This dog food brand is formulated to provide holistic health support for your furry friend. From increased energy to a healthier skin and coat, your pup will feel and look his best from the inside out. Each Instinct recipe is loaded with protein, nutrients, and whole-food nutrition.

These raw recipes are also minimally processed, which means that your pup gets even more nutrients from all natural ingredients. Boost your dog's wellness by feeding Instinct meals.

8. Orijen

Orijen premium dog food is made using fresh and raw ingredients. This food is inspired by a dog's ancestral diet, which consisted of whole prey animal ingredients, to include poultry, meat, fish, organs, and bone. Each recipe is loaded with free-run poultry, protein-rich meat, and wild-caught fish to ensure freshness and quality.

With Orijen, you can nourish your dog as nature intended. This food is specially formulated to unlock your pup's biological potential using biologically appropriate ingredients. Backed by pet nutritionists and experts, Orijen is a brand you can trust.

9. Nulo

With Nulo dog food, your pup will enjoy nutrition and love in every bite. This food is designed to provide everything your dog needs, including animal-based protein, low-glycemic ingredients, and low carb recipes. It's also enriched with a patented probiotic that helps with digestive and immune health.

Whether you're looking for freeze-dried raw food, high-meat kibble, or pate recipes, this brand is sure to have the right meal for your dog. Nulo offers dozens of recipes, all of which bring out the best in your canine.

10. Nature Logic

Nature Logic provides 100% natural nutrition for your dog using high quality ingredients. This food offers savory blends of protein-packed meals that are balanced with dried fruits and vegetables. Each meal will provide complete nutrition for your furry family member, no matter if he a puppy or a senior.

Nature Logic is made without any fillers or synthetic ingredients. And whether your dog loves duck, salmon, or pork, there's sure to be a recipe that will have him drooling for more.

11. Whole Earth Farms

Whole Earth Farms is a brand that's passionate about providing the best food for furry friends. This food is made with the Earth's best ingredients and each recipe is developed with the expertise from veterinarians and dog nutritionists. Whether your dog prefers dry kibble or wet food, Whole Earth Farms has a meal he's sure to love.

This brand offers healthy grain recipes along with grain-free options. There are also recipes specifically designed for growing puppies! Choose Whole Earth Farms and choose nutrition.

12. Nutro Ultra

Feed your dog a balanced meat that's packed with nutrients with Nutro Ultra. Each dry recipe features a flavorful trio of proteins, including lamb, chicken, and salmon. This food is also made with a superfood medley, which is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients.

Nutro Ultra combines high-quality ingredients to create food that provides an optimal balance of proteins, fat, and carbohydrates that keep your pup healthy and energized. This brand is non-GMO and values feeding clean.

13. Acana

Acana makes raw nutrition simple. This line of food is made with the world's finest ingredients, and every recipe is crafted with fruits, vegetables, and proteins. In fact, each recipe contains at least 50% animal ingredients to keep your dog strong, lean, and energized.

The best part is that this food never contains artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It's also made without corn, soy, tapioca, and wheat. Acana offers a variety of recipes that suit every pet. From limited ingredients to grain-free to healthy weight, there's a recipe for your furbaby.

14. Diamond Naturals

Diamond Naturals offers dry and canned dog foods that offer complete, holistic nutrition for your canine. This food is formulated to promote overall health and wellness so that your dog can live the best life possible. Each bag is loaded with antioxidant-rich superfoods, along with probiotics that support digestive and immune health.

Whether you have a puppy or a senior dog, Diamond Naturals is sure to have a recipe for your best friend. This is food that you can feel good about feeding!

15. Eagle Pack

Energize your dog and improve his overall health and well-being with Eagle Pack. This dog food brand has provided high quality, energizing dog food for more than 30 years. This food is made without fillers or artificial preservatives. Instead, it's formulated to provide the optimal balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats, along with omega fatty acids and antioxidants.

By feeding Eagle Pack, your furry friend will have healthy digestion, a shiny coat, and plenty of energy to make fun memories together each day.

16. Solid Gold

Holistic pet nutrition has never been tastier. Nourish your pet by filling his bowl with Solid Gold dog food. This brand uses carefully crafted recipes that are made with superfoods, probiotics, and omega fatty acids. These compounds feed good gut bacteria, balance the gut microbiome, and support your pup's skin, coat, and immune system.

Solid Gold offers a wide range of dog food options, including high protein, grain-free, sensitive stomach, and even a weight management recipe. The brand offers both dry and wet recipes.

17. Go! Solutions

Go! Solutions is backed by decades of pet nutrition expertise. Each recipe is crafted to nourish your furry friend from the inside out. Whether your pup needs a limited ingredient diet or needs extra support for skin and coat health, this brand has just the food.

Each Go! Solutions recipe is packed with meat protein to keep your pup energized and ready to take on each day. Aside from creating quality dog food, this brand is also committed to giving back to communities and reducing its environmental footprint.

18. Merrick Classic Healthy Grains

Feed your pup balanced, flavorful nutrition with Merrick Classic Healthy Grains. This line of dog food offers easily digestible recipes that are loaded with protein, fruits, vegetables, and a blend of whole grains to support digestion, skin health, heart health, and more. What's even better is that this food is enriched with health-boosting nutrients like omega fatty acids, chondroitin, and glucosamine.

Merrick Classic Healthy Grains offers recipes for all breed sizes and life stages. Treat your dog to big flavor and nutrition with each bite!

19. Wellness Core

Wellness Core offers a full line of all-natural, high-protein dog food that's available in wholesome grains and grain-free recipes. This food is big on flavor and nutrition, as each recipe is loaded with hearty animal proteins that keep your dog lean and strong.

With ingredients like salmon and beef, your pup will enjoy balanced, quality ingredients in each bite. Wellness Core offers small breed, large breed, and age advantage food, making it suitable for furry friends of all breeds and life stages.

20. Open Farm

Open Farm is ethically sourced from farm to bowl using nutritious ingredients that nourish your dog's well-being from the inside out. This brand has been highlighted by Forbes and Huffington Post. What's unique about this brand is that they use ethical and sustainable practices and standards from ingredient sourcing to recipes.

Open Farm offers both dry and wet dog food along with freeze dried raw and gently cooked food. Whether your dog prefers salmon and ancient grains or turkey and chicken, this brand is sure to have food that your pup will love.

Final thoughts

As a pet owner, you want to do everything you can to give your dog the best life possible. While this means plenty of love, walks, and cuddles on the couch, it also means feeding your furry friend a wholesome diet. By feeding one of the top 20 dog foods from the list above, you can have total peace of mind that your pup is getting all of the nutrients he needs at every life stage.

The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.